Speaking of Marathons
One usually thinks of marathons in terms of running or skiing or cycling or something physically taxing. I just participated in a three day bridge tournament that had all the earmarks of a marathon written all over it! Can three days of sitting at a bridge table playing cards be physically tiring? Yes, when you aren't getting enough sleep because your brain is working overtime! Yes, when the event is competitive!
The yearly tournament I participated in on the weekend was a "sectional" sponsored by my local and we had some 600-plus tables of bridge played on the weekend involving over 150 players from around our area. In the world of duplicate bridge there are club level games, then sectionals, followed by regionals, the "CAN-AT" and then the NABC tournaments that are North American wide and attract thousands of players for week long events. The next big NABC is going to be in Hawaii and some of the players from here are making plans to go. What fun! To participate in something you have a passion for and have a vacation in Hawaii at the same time!
So what attracts these players? Some (few) just play for the fun of it, but most of those going to tournaments are after masterpoints. Collecting specific numbers of masterpoints equates to various levels of achievement. Different coloured points are needed to move from level to level. Black points are collected at club games, silver at sectionals, red at regionals and gold at the NABC's. Occasionally there is a "STAC game - sectional tournament at the club level" or a "Gold" game at the club level, but they are quite rare. If players want their red or gold points they have to go to the bigger tournaments. Keeps things hopping all right!
So, a player moves up from rookie to junior master to sectional master, to regional master and then to life master. Achieving "life master" status is considered a major achievement but there are levels beyond - bronze, silver, gold and diamond. Before the weekend tournament I had enough points for 'regional master' but I needed a couple more silver points to achieve that status. I'm not sure, but I think I just may have earned enough in Sunday's team event! Here's hoping!
The yearly tournament I participated in on the weekend was a "sectional" sponsored by my local and we had some 600-plus tables of bridge played on the weekend involving over 150 players from around our area. In the world of duplicate bridge there are club level games, then sectionals, followed by regionals, the "CAN-AT" and then the NABC tournaments that are North American wide and attract thousands of players for week long events. The next big NABC is going to be in Hawaii and some of the players from here are making plans to go. What fun! To participate in something you have a passion for and have a vacation in Hawaii at the same time!
So what attracts these players? Some (few) just play for the fun of it, but most of those going to tournaments are after masterpoints. Collecting specific numbers of masterpoints equates to various levels of achievement. Different coloured points are needed to move from level to level. Black points are collected at club games, silver at sectionals, red at regionals and gold at the NABC's. Occasionally there is a "STAC game - sectional tournament at the club level" or a "Gold" game at the club level, but they are quite rare. If players want their red or gold points they have to go to the bigger tournaments. Keeps things hopping all right!
So, a player moves up from rookie to junior master to sectional master, to regional master and then to life master. Achieving "life master" status is considered a major achievement but there are levels beyond - bronze, silver, gold and diamond. Before the weekend tournament I had enough points for 'regional master' but I needed a couple more silver points to achieve that status. I'm not sure, but I think I just may have earned enough in Sunday's team event! Here's hoping!
posted by mamie @ 10:31 AM
3 Comments:
At 4:28 PM,
Anonymous said…
Mamie, I responded to your questions that your posted to my Camera Toss entry. Should you need further help, just sign me up as a contact over at Flickr.
BTW, I briefly went through your blog and I didn't notice any pictures that were too big. I tend to post mine at medium, but if I go to the page and feel it is too large or small, it's a simple thing to fix.
At 1:50 AM,
Anonymous said…
I didn't know that there is so much beyond the actual game of bridge, as one watches four people making bids in a somewhat strange ritual of numbered suits. These suits never actually appear that way to a casual onlooker as the cards are played out on the table. I have learned so much. Hawaii does sound like a nice goal to work toward.
At 12:07 PM,
mamie said…
NW, thanks for your comment; so nice to know you are still taking a look at my blog from time to time!
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